Inhalation apparatus

Abstract

An inhalation apparatus comprising an automatic pressure regulator including a body having an opening for receiving the valve of an oxygen tank and an outlet for a hose extending from the outlet. A valve is attached to the hose and includes a manual control for selectively varying the volume of oxygen passing through the hose to an inhaling mask on the end of the hose. The pressure regulator body includes two chambers, a passage extending from one chamber to the other, and an inlet passage extending to one chamber. Each chamber has a diaphragm closing one wall thereof and a spring yieldingly urging the diaphragm in one direction. An orifice is associated with the inlet and an orifice is associated with the passage. A lever is pivoted adjacent its respective diaphragm and has one end thereof pivotally connected to its respective diaphragm and the other end thereof engaging a valve associated with the respective orifice. A pressure relief valve is provided in the first chamber and is adapted to vent the oxygen from the first chamber to the atmosphere when the pressure in the first chamber exceeds a predetermined value.

I claim: 
     
       1. In an inhalation apparatus, the combination comprising an automatic pressure regulator including a body,   said body having an opening for receiving a valve of an oxygen tank,   said body having an outlet,   said body including walls defining two chambers,   a connecting passage extending from one chamber to the other,   an inlet passage extending to one said chamber,   each said chamber having a diaphragm closing one wall thereof,   spring means yieldingly urging said diaphragm in one direction,   an orifice associated with said inlet,   an orifice associated with said passage,   an orifice member for each said orifice,   a lever for each said chamber,   means for pivoting one end of each said lever to its respective diaphragm,   the other end of each said lever engaging its respective orifice member,   a pressure relief valve in the wall of said body defining said first chamber and operable independently of said lever in said first chamber and its respective orifice member to vent the oxygen from said first chamber directly to the atmosphere when the pressure in said first chamber exceeds a predetermined value.   
     
     
       2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for pivoting said lever to its respective chamber comprises spaced recesses in said body, a pin extending through said lever and engaging said recesses,   said screw means threaded into said body and having a head removably engaging said pin and holding said pin in said recesses.   
     
     
       3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said screw means removably engaging said pin and holding said pin in said recesses comprises a cap screw. 
     
     
       4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means pivotally connecting said one end of each said lever to its respective diaphragm comprises a pivot member fixed to said diaphragm and pin means pivoting the one end of said lever to said pivot member. 
     
     
       5. The combination set forth in claim 1 including a hose extending from said outlet and a manual valve attached to said hose,   said valve including means for selectively varying the volume of oxygen passing through said hose to an inhaling mask to the end of said hose.   
     
     
       6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said manual valve comprises a manual valve body, a valve member rotatably mounted in an opening in said manual valve body,   said manual valve body having an inlet connected to one end of said hose and an outlet,   said valve member including a first plurality of orifices of different sizes circumferentially spaced about said valve member and extending from the periphery of said valve member to an interior cavity,   said valve member having a second plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending orifices extending from said cavity to the periphery of the valve member and in axially spaced relation to said first plurality of orifices,   indicia means on said manual valve body,   and a manually movable head on said valve member adapted to be engaged and rotated to bring selected orifices into alignment with said inlet in order to vary the volume of oxygen passing through said manual valve body.   
     
     
       7. The combination set forth in claim 6 including detent means on said manual valve body associated with said head for selectively holding the valve member in adjusted position. 
     
     
       8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said detent means comprises a spring-loaded ball. 
     
     
       9. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said manual valve body includes concave sides for gripping the body with one hand to permit grasping the head of the valve member with the other. 
     
     
       10. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said head is circular. 
     
     
       11. The combination set forth in claim 10 including circumferentially spaced indicia on said head.